SVU and Children

Even though I don't watch Law and Order, you raise a good issue. I do let my teens watch certain shows on TV to help them know what is out there. Some examples are Dateline's To Catch a Predator and 20/20. Dateline is a great show to educate my kids on the dangers of supplying too much information online. It helps my daughter to understand why she shouldn't post certain pictures on myspace or even have them taken for that matter!!! My daughter has learned internet security from me, but this re-enforces my teaching to her. 20/20 has some great shows about so many different issues out there in the world. My daughter sat and watched an episode about email scams. How doctors, politicians, and many other fell for the scams because they fell to greed or hope. This also teaches her in the future to think about something and realize it is a scam to get your money. I think certain shows are very good at showing them the world and educating them to know what is out there. I can not shelter my kids forever from harm...so I would rather them learn in some ways what to expect before leaving the nest. It's a tough world out there!!!! I just hope to teach them enough to survive it!

I think it may depend on the child. Some children are more mature at 12 than others....this goes for any age really. I adore all Law and Orders, especially SVU and it helps me deal with things that have happened in my past etc. I'm not a mother, so i am not sure if I would allow my child to watch it. In Australia, they screen it 8.30 pm and later, so it would depend on the child's bedtime too and what time it was being aired.

I don't feel that is a children's show. It is for adults. Graphic violence and adult scenes and things like that. I love the show but my child will not be anyplace near my TV.

I don't know if you can set an age on something like this, but should determine if she's mature enough for this adult content. I think that each child will be ready for this show at different times. I think that if you use it as an educational tool that it's a good resource... though I also know that sometimes the show gets very graphic and just as you should judge the age of the child on an individual basis, you should also take each show on an individual basis and if you think that one show is too much or over the line then you need to shut it off.

I love watching Law & Order SVU & Criminal Intent...I have 3 children..12, 9, & 8 and they all watch it with me. They ask lots of questions too! I think it's good that they take interest in these types of shows because unlike soaps & cartoons they are watching something realistic, something that teaches them and won't rot their brains. Sure, the show can get a bit squeemish, at times...but at least it isn't fantasy crap! It makes my children more aware of the dangers that are out in the real world from the comfort and safety of their living room!

I love watching SVU and a couple of years ago when my youngest son was 13 he wanted to start watching it too. We always watch it together now(my hubby is usually asleep by then and my oldest son is usually out with friends) and I feel like it's a good way for him to learn about issues on violence. He and I have had some good discussions about certain episodes; it's actually been a part of a good bonding experience for us.

I'm sure I'll get flamed but my kids watch the show with me. They are 6, 5 and 4. They watch all sorts of stuff with me. Usually it is my son because he will sneak in while I'm trying to watch and will ask me a million questions. If it is a really graphic one I will usually send him out of the room but he seems very interested in "catching the bad guy". 12 years old sounds like a reasonable age to me. I probably would have watched that show at 12 and my parents wouldn't have stopped me. They pretty much let me watch what I wanted.

I love Law and Order: SVU. It's one of my all time favorite shows. I don't have any children so I really don't have to worry about that right now. But if I did, I would probably wait until they are 12 to let them watch the show. I agree with you, I think that it can show them just how dangerous internet can be. And so many other things too! I would make sure to really explain things to my child and let them ask questions. It could be a very good learning tool. I know that my aunt let my cousin (a girl) watch a movie that dealt with rape and assault. Afterwards they had a long talk and my aunt enrolled both of them in a self defense class. It was a mother daughter bonding time that they both still talk about today. I think that was a great way to handle it.

Unfortuately Emerald, it is my opinion that by the time a sweet child is 12, they have already learned about all that is going on in the underground world; and it is appropriate for them to watch this kind of programming with an adult/parent/grandparent/uncle/aunt/etc. there with them to explain any of the un-truths or partial truths their peers have told them. When I was 12 I thought I could get pregnant if a boy rubbed his uppper torso and his lower torso against mine. Needless to say, I did not make the best dance partner!~Donna

Yes I watch SVU and yes my children watch it with me. My 10 year old sits down and watchs. I think that she started watching at 9 years old. And she is very precautious about everything she does and yes I think that SVU has helped her see things in someone elses perspective other that my and her fathers.

I think that what your doing is mostly what the show is intended for, to create awareness of the danger thats out there in the streets and in internet, i think the age in which they are able to comprehend what they see is as good as any for thier own safety.

Law and Order Special Victims Unit is a fantastic show, yes I do let my child watch this show i believe that it is great for my children to watch this and I recommend them watching this at around 11 years of age. I do think that it is good for my children to watch so that they are aware of what kind of people are in this world of ours today. I think that you are doing a really great job of helping your niece and I do the same as you.

I love to watch the show it is very intersting ...but I can't with a 2 yr.old ,it is way to graphic for her .. what you are doing with the 12 yr old is great ,just keep talking with her about the rights and wrongs and that is the best thing to do ...good job

I haven't let my kids watch it because it's such a graphic show, however, I probably wouldn't put up much of a fuss if my twelve year old watched it. She's mature enough to handle it and I think you're right, it would help her to learn the way life can be sometimes.

I feel that SVU should be age appropriate to only those children who are 14 and older.as the show deals with a great many mature subjects that shouldn't be a part of a childrens viewing schedule. This is why it is scheduled to come on as late as it does so that most children are in bed and thus not coming in conflct with parents' viewing and the need to keep programming that is appropriate for youger family members.

no,we dont let them see anything like that, they are too small to understand.

well my kids r not into that stuff, they're still young! but i love that show, it's my favorite law and order! u learn a lot on the law and order shows!

i think that maybe its a good idea to let children watch it because it can show them how to take care of themselves in situations like that and to realize when they are being abused. i know it can get very graphic, but its better to raise a child who can understand things like this as opposed to a child who is ignorant and naive and can easily fall into these sorts of traps.

I think that this type of TV shows needs to be watch with an aduldt. Every time that there is an unpropiate part, the adule person will switch a channel. I think that the age of 14 is a good age for kids to watch. The kids in our days knows everything, and there is almost no need to teach them. Everything they are learning is from school. So, I think that in some cases this show can be useful to teach them about life, and the world that were living in.

I have 6 all together 3 are mine and 3 are my stepkids! My 2 older stepkids are 13 and 14 and they watch it however I dont allow my 9 yr old stepdaughter or my 9 5 and 1 yr old daughters to watch it. Thats just too much for a little kids brain to handle.